The New England Patriots have to be feeling good about themselves after Sunday’s win over the New Orleans Saints. At 4-2, the New England Patriots have already defied their expectations early in the year, and they’ve earned the right for general manager Eliot Wolf to pursue a deal that can help them compete ahead of the Nov. 4 trade deadline.
There are several directions the Patriots can take to make that happen, but the most logical one is at running back. With Rhamondre Stevenson struggling in the lead role and TreVeyon Henderson suited better for a complementary role, adding to the backfield is a good idea in the coming weeks, and it makes Tennessee Titans running back Tony Pollard an obvious target after Monday’s news.
Brian Callahan’s Firing Opens Door for Patriots to Trade for Tony Pollard
The Titans announced on Monday that they have fired head coach Brian Callahan. Callahan lasted just 23 games with Tennessee, posting a 4-19 record after being hired before the 2024 campaign, and became the first head coach to be fired this season. While the Patriots may face a Titans team in Week 7 that could be riding a wave of adrenaline after a coaching change, it could allow them to scout Pollard, who should be on their radar going forward.
Pollard has spent the past two seasons in Tennessee, running for 1,441 yards and seven touchdowns after signing a three-year, $21.75 million contract before the 2024 campaign. While his first season came with the third straight 1,000-yard campaign of his career, he may not fit the Titans' new timeline at age 28 and could be a perfect target for the Patriots.
Vrabel has been extremely loyal to Stevenson despite an NFL-high 10 fumbles over the past two seasons. Things have hit rock bottom for the Oklahoma product with just 32 yards on 20 carries over his past two games. Henderson was also impressive during the preseason, but that hasn’t played out when the games started to count, as he has contributed 148 rushing yards and a touchdown on 41 carries over the first six games.
While Henderson also has contributed as a pass-catcher, Pollard is a back who doesn’t need to be taken off the field. His best three-year stretch began with a Pro Bowl appearance as a member of the Dallas Cowboys in 2022, and during that stretch, he contributed 3,091 yards and 20 touchdowns on the ground with 135 catches for 920 yards and three touchdowns in the passing game.
There’s also little risk involved in a potential move. The Patriots have 10 draft picks in the upcoming draft, and the Titans may be willing to accept a Day 3 pick to send Pollard to New England. If the deal doesn’t work out, the Patriots can save $7.25 million by releasing Pollard before June 1. But if it does, it would give New England the option to release Stevenson, who is in the first year of a four-year, $36 million contract extension.
With minimal risk and the potential to find a way out from Stevenson’s contract, the Patriots have few reasons not to make this move if it’s available. It makes Callahan’s firing significant in New England and could give the Patriots a running back for a potential playoff push.